Automatic selective change-gear mechanism.



G. A. EDDY.

AUTOMATIC SELECTIVE CHANGE GEAR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FlLED JAN. 12, 1914.

pff Maf/afg.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

1 f s k v l u A v; f f i n x al@ A G. A. EDDY.

AUT OMATIC SELECTIVE CHANGE GEAR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-12,1914.

Patented 5311.18, 191e.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. A. EDDY.

AUTOMATICSELECTIVE CHANGE GEAR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1914.

l 168,71 5. Patented Jan.' 18, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

maf/Y" \5 4 @ff ff @fur e. A. EDDY. AUTOMATIC SELECTIVE CHANGE GEAR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12 1914.

1916. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Jan. 18,

1 Eel in lie/iii@ GERALD Pi. '.E'DBY, LS ANGELES, C L-KFCBNIA, ASSGNOB,' BY DER-ECT AND MESNE ULFTFITIC SELECTIVE CHANGE GEAB wi/ENTS, OE TETE-TY GNE-HUNDBEDTHS TO A. B. BODGE AND THRTY ONE- EDTHS TO E. G. BELK. BSTR GF LGS ANGELES, CALIFGRNE.

-replication filed Jennery 1251914.

it lmovfn that l. l'iLHAL li il citizen the lnited tit-rites rcs line; at Les haie iiivented new and useful Improve" '.tohiatic Selective Change-Gear the folloivinf a sp This invention lf *l 'Y la is), and Aherehv the operator of; a sinn i c ,s 1 ul notion maj shirt the change speen @je speed mechanism into u-allv selected. il" he 'so vention in its a speed or msm arranged ctr-fe mechanism. (2l a selece posi Y cooperating ith the se .et-tive i anisin to smi.. the gears to the si autel position lijf manual operation oi a :2.a lover or the liiic` :and {ef-l a change speer1 V`uateo. of.' ine shitting meenalevcr bv which motion is impart- .n e of the gears maj; be `niv' suitit not the clutch t in v coin- .i wed mechm Au oiaohile. lroadlv he considered asone an automaticallj,7 n` i setting lai tor sul) 4`:funent e iiruuiler view ot in v invention the which .l particularly irish to las application and to hereinllation and cooperation ot' ctive mechanism and the vvhich change ot is etie automzui selective mechanism nv ionihination of proper Specification of Letters Eatent.

ltyateiited am 1S, ii.

serial No. 811.749.

The automobile driver may at any time actuate the change mechanism to throw into mesh those gre-ars which the. selective mechanism -has selected, but he not at time drives the car most eiiiciently is selectec hf; the automatic selector. To illustrate` it is not usual that the lovf gear of an automobile is used except in startingr and on heavy pulls. Non* inv automatic selective mechanism ma;Y 1oe controlled by the amount or power necessary to pull the car at a certain speed. There have been devices proposed for directly causing changes ot gearinel ratio by virtue ot the variation in torque between the engine and the driving Wheels ot the automobile. That is, as the speed rises and the torque decreases, the gears are shifted automaticallj7 to cause the automohile to run at a relativelyY greater speed and the ene'ine at a relativelyY lesser speed. T he ditlicult;v in usine this form otl control is that. the torque of the average automobile engine does not var v directlvY as the speed: thaty is. there is not a constant amount of energy per engine stroke or cjcle. I prefer to have mf; selective means controlled by the iced ol' somo part ot tue automobile driving gear. and preierahlv hy that part ot the ej ai' which always runs at a speed having a iixed ratio to the speed of the antor ohile itself. Variation of speed of the automohile is perhaps as successful a means as any of measuring' the torque required. l preferably lake niv selectire mechanism to he controlled directly by a speed controlled :uiparatus Thus. suppose that an autmohile equipped with my apparatus is being driven over a gradev` the speed of the car ygradiuilly flecreasing as a summit is ap-l` hut the driver may know by former experience that the carl will top the grade on the high gear arrangement.l Under such condition the driver will not change gears; but should he decide to do so, he will immediately throw the gear set into low, the autovmatic selective mechanism having first se lected intermediate and then low as the speed of the car has decreased. I'speak herein of a car and change gear mechanism having three forward speeds and one reverse; but it will be seen vthat my invention is fundamentally applicable to any number of speeds. Reverse speed must,r of course, be selected manually on all occasions.

Itwill be understood that the automatic selective means is continuously in operation in such manner that the driver, by manual operation, may at any. and all times obtain some speed which is 'selected by the automatic means. Theoretically, of course, there may be an instant, on every transition of the selective vmeans from one speed to the next, whenno speed is selected;` but in practice such instants of transition maybe ignored and the'selective mechanism mayl be said not only to be in continuous operation but also to preferably continuously'selectively set the shifting mechanism. n y

In ,the present embodiment of my invention I have shown such a gear shifting mechanism is shown in my `joint application with John Franklin McNutt for change gear mechanisms S. 711.108, filed July 23rd, 1912, this mechanism being included in my present combination and typifying mechabe used to accomplish thev nisins which may sameresiilt in substantially the same manner. It will be understood that I do not herein claim thespecific construction of this gear shifting-device. I prefer to use electric energy as themotive power in the automatic selective portions of my, device, although any other suitable motive for causing the operations herein set forth.

power may be used ,I have shown my now preferred form of invention in the accompanying drawings,'in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing lan automobile equipped witli-my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan of a typical form of gear set operated b v my mechanism. Fig. ,3 is a longitiidinal vertical section of mechanism on line 3-3 of Fig. 4, Fi g.v -l is a section taken on line 4-1Jf of Fig. 3. th a aspect of Fig. 4 being similar to that of Fig. 1.v Figs. 5, 6 and f7 are sections taken similarly to Fig. 4 showing the vparts in various positions. Fig. 8 is a view` taken on line 8-S of Fig. 3, showing the parts in the same position as shown -in Fig. G, Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7 showing the parts in one of their alternate positions. Fie'. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9, showing the parts Ain their other alternate positions, Fig. 11 isa perthe change gear y spective illustrating typical arrangements of the pedals by which manual operation of'my device is had, Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the. electrical, arrangements of my selective apparatus, Fig. 13 is a detail view showing parts in the position shown in"F ig. 6, and Fig. 14 is a section taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

,Referring first particularly kto Fig. 1 I i have therein shown the body of an automobile A, lhaving engine E clutch and transmission gearing G 3. The engine drives' through the clutch to the transmission gearing, which is typically in the form shown in Fig. 2. The clutch C is operated by the clutch pedal 22 through connecting members 38 and 39; andI have shown vice, generally designated by the letter I) Around one end Ofshaft 2G there are. arranged t'wo concentric sleeves 28 and 29, sleeve 28 carrying an arm 30 and sleeve 29 carrying an arm 31 outside of casing These arms 30 and 31`connect with'i'ods 32 and 33 which pass through and into the case of the transmission gear mechanism G `and thereopei'ate geais'by sliding them longitudinally in the ordinary and well known manner. The arrangement is such that the oscillation of arm 30 will cause the movement of rod 32 and thereby cause the shifti ing of' pinion 3J: within the change gear mechanism so that, when the arm 30 and rod 32 and pinion 34 are forward, the transmission gearing is in its low arrangement,

and when Vthese parts are -to the rear then the transmission is in its reverse arrangement. Similarly, when the arm 311 and rod 33 and gear are forward.the transmission gears are in their high speed arrangement, while when these parts are to the rear the transmission Igearing is in its interiiiediate speed arrangement.

The mechanism D about to be described is designed to move the arms 30 and 31' to their different the automatic selective mechanism. The selective mechanism is so arranged and connected with 4the gear changing iiiechanisiii D that a. 22 forward and backwill cause the. shifting of the gears to the position selected by the selective mechanism. -Mounted upon the gear shifting iiiccliaiiisi'n 1) there are three. solenoids 40, 41 and 42 of a character tohc hereinafter Aspecifically explained.l It

siiilices at present to say that energization of the solenoids causes upward movement of positions as selected by' movement of the clutch-pedal` usmntc and 11emam deoosegy mounted on ly move ibamcted m driving mounted im ina be this m am be other muse forwardly and vil Saum gears to he thrown 10W 7 arrange raised if low is selected and allowed to remain in normal position if high is selected. Upward movement of stem will cause the remo 'al of the pin 89 and will allow stop pin S5 to be pushed rearwardly when member G3 moves rearwardly as is shown iny Fig. In this position either the intermediate or reverse arrangement of the transmission gears is eifected, depending upon the selection made by proper manipulation of stem 41. The remaining portions of the mechanism about to be described consist in the means of connecting the members 63 and 83 together so that themember GIS may be moved as desired; means for locking the member 63 in either its forward or rear ward position; and means for actuating the locking mechanismbetweenthe members S3 and 63 and between'stationary case or frame and the member 63.

Member 63 has a suitable groove or slot 100 in its lower end which is engageable by either of two spring pressed pins 101 and 102 set in such positions as to lock the member 63 in its forward or rearward position when onel of the pins enters the slot 100. These pins are pressed upwardly by eomparatively light springs 103 and are so constructed with reference to the slot that they will enter easily thereinto. Member ($3 earries a loose bolt 101 having a limited radial travel in member (i3 in such manner that its lower end may be projected to practically fill the slot 100, as is best shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Directly above thel loose bolt 104 there is arranged a slidable locking bolt 105. This locking bolt has a projecting end 100 adapted to enter and engage in a suitable recess 107 in the. member 03, the recess 10T being opposite the slot 100 and in such position with relation to the loose bolt 101 that one end of Y the. bolt 101 will always project into either slot 100 or recess 107,. Locking bolt '105 1s radially slidable. in driving member 83 and has a relatively heavy spring 10S which presses it outwardly, the spring 10S being stronger than either of thesp'rings 103.

livoted at 110 to member S3 is an arm 111 whose free end rests in a recess 112 of locking bolts. 105. This arm carries a suitable cam 11C-. thel arm and cam being rigidly connected and relatively immovable. The lower end. of the cam 113 has a tooth or shoulder 113n which is adapted to be engaged either by pawl 111 or pawl 115. Pawl 115 is pivoted at 116 to the frame of the device and pawl 111 yis pivoted at 117 thereto. A- spring 11S is arranged between the pa wls in such manne as to tend to rotate them in the directi( `s indicated. The engaging end otpawl 115 is'in such'position as to engage the cam 113 when the member 83 is,4 in its central position shown in Fig. (5.y Movement of the member 83 in the direction opposite ito that indicated by the arrow will cause the cam'll to be rotated and to move the l,arm 111 about the pivot 110 and to thereby raise lthe locking bolt" 105 from the position shown-in Fig. 6 toward the position shown in Fig. 5 (relative to the member Thismeans that the end 106 of the locking bolt is withdrawn upwardly from the recess 107 in member G3 and allows member G3 tol remain in the position shown in Fig. 6 while member S3 moves toward the left to its normal position shown in Fig. 1. The normal position of member 83 is also shown .in Fig. 5;'this is the position in lwhich it remains when the clutch -is engaged and when the clutch lever 22 is in the positionshown in Fig. 1. It e has been explained how movement of the clutch lever 2Q- in the. direction indicated (to open the clutch) will rotate the shaft 2G in the direction indicated in Fig. 1, being the same direction as indicated in the other figaires; and how letting the clutch lever back to position will rotate shaft QG in the opposite direction and will thus move member 83 back to the position shown in Fig. When member S3 has moved back to this position shown in Fig. 5, the cam` 113 may have been engaged by the pawl 115. with the result of dropping member 63 in the position shown in Fig. 1 or the pawl 115 may have been lowered so that the member 03 is carried on to the position shown in Fig. 5. Pawl 111 first engages the cam when the member-S3 is directly on the radial line of locking pin 102; sothat, when the melnber 100 S3 has carried the member 63 to the position shown in Fig. 5.' the locking bolt 105 will be moved upwardly and will drop the member G3 in a position where the locking pin 102 will enter slot 100 of the member ($3 and 105 hold it there in position. Fawl 115 is controlled in its action by a lever 120 pivoted at 121 `to the frame and having one end 120n engaging a lug 115n projecting outwardly from pawl 115 while the other end of lever 110 1:20 engages at 120" with pin 8S). The arrangementis such that. when the pin S9 is withdrawn, the end 120 of lever 120 will press down on the pawl 115 and move it to a position so that the cam 11?) will pass over 115 the pawl without being actuated by it. This means that when the stem 15 is moved upwardly and the stop S5 released, the locking bolt 105 will not be moved in member S3 as .the member C3 moves from the position 120 and back again, upon each 139" `thrown to the position' opposite to that "mal position or neutral `to pass baek to its normal position.

Vhen the wedge moves under .the bolt the member 63 isdiopped .in position shown` in Figs. 7. and 9; when the v they bolt the member 63 is engaged by .the bolt and is then moved rearwardly upon the subsequent rearward movement of member 83,v being carried either to its central neutral position or to its rearward position dependf ing upon whether pawl 115 is left in noris pressed down.

'ith the foregoing description of the ma- `eliine itI is believed that the following description of its operation will be made clear. The meinbers'G-S and 83 are normally'iii the positions shown in Fig. 4.' 1V ith member G3 in its normal central position thedriving liig must also be in vits noiiiiiil't'.t iitiiil position and the gear shifting arms (i0 and 61 must be in their normal positions, which Causes the transmission gears to. be 'in designed to throw the transmission gearing into the low arrangement: that is, the. automatic selective ymechanism luis moved the stems 43 a .d H upwardly. This immediately causes the driving lug (S2 to be shown in Fig. 3, engaging the lug with the -gear shifter arm (50;-aiid fit also `causes the pin SS'to be withdrawnv as is-shown in Fig. 7. The clutch .or-otlier manual lever is then operated and the member S3 travels from itsf normal position to the position shown 4iii Fig. The locking bolt 105 immediately slips into place iii tlie. reeess 1(l7 aiidthe engaging shoulders 1l() and 141 earry the inein'bei; ($2- to fthe positiin shown in l'igf 7.. (lii the drawii'ifs Figsft, i" and Sl the distaiiee bev tweenshoulders 1l() and1l-1 is exaggerated() llei'e the aetion of the. wedge 130 eauses the member '(33 to be dropped and allows the loekin'g pin .101 to hold the iiienibei (i3 in position. Release of the eluteli or other pedal oi' leve allows the member H3 The geanshifter arm (il) has been carried forwardly with the member (Si and this eauses the throw/ing ofthe transiiiission gearing n into the. low -`arrangement. Intermediate is selected by moving stein i5 upwardly, stein 44 being lel't in its normal position. `ll/lovenient of the, pedal will then move. the. member w''forwardly where. it will pielvP up the-member ($3 as hereinluil'ore. deseribed: upon the rearward movementoll the meinber H3 the member (S3 will move rearwardly toward the position shown in l"ig. 5. pawl 115, being pressed outwarillyby the upward movement ol stem 45, will not engage with rain 113; andithe meinberll will yconsequently be eai'ried past its eeutral neutral position and on lo. the position shown iii Fig. 5. And wheiitlie parts reaeli this position the pawl lllwill engage the wedge rides over .slot (ST between the two ribsl First let us suppose that it is` .is selected by'up causing tlie'reiiuiYal of piii'SS from normal position. ,This releases.tlie'stop pi'ii'lbi and 1 forwardly with the inenibei- HB y .lug (S2 hasbeen Carried with the' member 63.

but, upon the guide finger (ieaehing l'the (Sti, it will immediately passthrougli the slotpon'aecouiit of the pressure of spring The passage of the lguide tiiiger through tlieslot means that the lug G2. will disengz'igethe gear shifter arm 4130 a-ndfwill immediately engage the gearsliifter arm (S1. The wgear shifter arm (5() is thus left iiiits neutral position aiidge'ar shifter arm (51 yisrarriekl to the rear with the further n'iovem'en't ofv meinber (33. Carrying gear shifter.'arm'gtov the rear means ,-tli'at theQtraiisiiiisison gears aie plaeed in vtheir j/,iiiteriiiediate arrangenient. .as hereiiibefe deserib'ed.v High iard movement of `pin 43.

,member 'i in the Centralneutral posi-.

tion as is'shown in Figli, and upon release ofltliepedal the member U3 would travel baelv' to its position shown in Fig. .4. In fact, -when it is desired 'to put tlieiiiechanism Ain neutral position from any speed position it `is only necessary to deiiergize all the soleiioids l0, l1. and vl2 and to operate the eluteh pedal. It will be seen that the member 83 willpiek up' the member (S3 lfrom either of its positions; and if it picks up the iiieiiiber'G- in its for 'ard position and moves it rearwardly, then .the pawl 1.15 will eause the operation of eam 113 to drop the member o3 in its neutral position. If it .pielts up the iiieiiiber (S8 in its rear posi-v llwill then engage with cam 113.to move the lockingl bolt 105 to leave the member (33 in its neutral position when the member l S3 moves rearwardly. i

'llie meelianieal features ofi-my invention having now been explained, -it 'remains to explain tl i automatic seleetive meehanisui, which is preferably electrical in. its natui'e. I rel'er lmrtieularly to Figs. 1 and 12.-.'l`he numeral 170 may designate a-u`ordiiiarv speedometer eoni'ieetediu the uslialaiiaiiiier tion, then the operation of the stoppin l8.4i will be to stop the movement ot both niem- .bers in the eeiitral position, and the'pawl Aifo to one of Ythe wheels of the automohile, so

that the speedometer hand.' shown. in i"ig.'1.2

contaet 173 extend from i'our miles per hour ometer. the eontucts 172. 173

mtwo separate wiudire's lh) and lh.

' the evnipress "ing normall \v elosed.

al-1 aud "eore 157 l'or solenoid 'il tion oll a small solenoid ll).

to ten miles per hour, and the high Contact 171 extend on from ten nriles per hour. Current is had' from an)v suitable source, sang' a hatter)Y 175. From the hattet- Y 17:3 a wire 176 leads to switch 177 whose nature will he hereinafter set forth. this switch heiYire 17S leads from h to the hand L71 ot 'the speedA `Wires 179. 124) and 151 lead `l'roni and 17lrespeetirelv to the rarious solenoids 4t), il and l2 mounted upon the gear shitting* device l)".

the s\ :hraneh wire M2 ieads trom wire 17S through :a push hutton or suuilar normall \7 open mit-'sh 153. from whiehl wire itil leads along with wires 175i, ih!) and 131 to the soleuoids 2 on the gft-ar shittingA derive. llaeh ot the solenuids slt). and l2 has pre t'eral i 'lhere is an armature eore 'tor enel: solenoid. as 1127 'solenoids il und i2 und 157 for solenoid these eures heine mounted direetlf.' upon stems l und l5 and eonneeted through the medium oi spring' il with stein l-Yt. 'l`he mounted upon upper stein Yl-Ylwhieh lifts stein il through )n sprir lsf it will he seen from iuspertion ol Figi', il that the stein lt eannot he moved upwardly exeept when the parts are iu their central positions opposite the slot Vit through the rlhs. and upper stem it may more upwurdl)v :it

anv time: the stein il ma): then subsequently follow when the purts reueh tlnii-eentral positions'. the spring' l i beursV stronjjer than ierzition ot the tirresmall d under a the proper part ol' i .li near he ug pper oositi i i,

springV ishoruualtv pressed iin-rifinita' hy a 102 and mar he pulled reurwurdlf; he the n i. 1 i

:.Vlll l has a stem i511 at its reur end whien engage.

with a spring.,r switch 195. 'When the detent springs in under the shouitler on the stem 13, it or 15, the switch 195 opens; and the openingi ot this switeh operates to cut the circuit supplying` current tothe corresponding solenoid it), i1 or Mounted upon earh ot' the solenoids 20. #il and ft2 is a light armature 2U() adapted hy its movement to open and close two switches 201. and 202. Si spring )55 normally holds the armature in the position shown in Fig. 12; and the armature 2U() is immediatel \Y attracted h v a pol piece 201 ot its solenoid as soon as that soienoid is energized and before the Corresponding core 1157 has moved to an)Y extent. 1n the normal position of armature 20() shown in Fig. 12. the switch 202 is dosed; when the armature 2U() mores to the position shown in Fig 5 the switch 201 is eiosed and the switch 202 a lowed to open.

wire 210 leads t'roln the other side. of Ahattery 175 to a distributingwire 211. from which distriluitingwire 211. wires 212 lead to one side ot noriualliY elosed switehes 202. 'Wires 2123 had trom the other side ot' the switehes 202 to the winding' ot correspond? ing solenoids 192%; and wires 214 iead from the other side ot' windings oi solenoids 193 to common wire 21.1. A\no'her istrihuting wire 21o leads trom wire 17S at i ie opposite side ot' the hattery trom wire 21?: and distrihutingwire 21o ma;Y he eonueeted with eouinion wire 215 through au)v one of s\'-.'itehes 24H which happen ti he closed h v the uetion ol the eorresiluunliirsy armature 2Ull. yThe switches 201 are eouiieeted hetween distrihutinsA wire 21o and eonunon wire 215 h): wires 217 and 21hI as illustrated. Flos-ure ot au \v one o switehes 201 will throw euri-ent into wire (,"urreut from wire 213 will flow through wire 2H` soleand wire 210 haelt to the hath-1w. words. when any one or more of the solenoids il). li or rire euerg'iyed the aetion ot' the eorrespoxuliue' armatures 2h!) will he to throw rui-rent through the detent operating` solenoid-s ll whirh vol-respond to the main soleuoids whieh are not enersixedz' and the uitlnlru\':\l ot' these detents lili.) will allow any ot' the stems l-l. il and -lwhich are previousir raised to xuorerto their normal positions. musing' rorresponding uetuation oi' the gear shitting' derne "D". l

Suppose now that th automobile is standing and it is desired to stai the speedonieier hand will umlie the eontart with the low rontaet 172 and send eurrent through wiril 7i). lffire '175) has two luaurhes im and 1 reet espeetirelr with o \.\"nding` ot eaeh the soleuoit'is'll :uid The eur eut is thi led to one winding ol' Quell o l l ,ln other' (stem 44 rising as hereinbefore explained).A

When the stems 43 and 44l have moved upwardly sufficient for proper operation of the gear shifting device 1), the detents 190 will spring under the shoulders 191 on th stems and will hold them in their upper positions.. At the same time the switches 195 will open and current through the solenoids will'be discontinued; but the stems 43y and 44a will still be held in their uppermost positions. Actuation Aof the foot .pedal 22 will now cause the shifting of the gears in the gear set to the low arrangement and the car may be then started on the low.l As the speed increases, the speedometer hand f 171 will come into engagement withy interback to battery 175.

v the switch 201 to close.

mediate contact 173` sending current Athrough the wire 180 which connects to one winding 186.01 solenoid 42 only. Current will ow through this winding of the solenoid and through wires 220, switch 195, wire 222, distributing wire 211, and wire 210 The corresponding armature 200 will be attracted downwardly and will cause the switch 202 to open land Closure of the switch 201 will throw current from distributing wire 216 to common wire 215. The -current will flow from common wire 215 through wires 214 of the two solenoids 193 adjacent'the solenoids 40 and 41, through the winding y of those solenoids 193 and through wires 213, switches A202 and wires 212 back to distributing wires 211 and v,through wire 210fto the battery 175. AThe said two solenoids 193 will then be energized to withdrawthe detents 190 and allow` The stem 45' will be raised by the action of solenoids 42 the stems 43 and 44 to fall.

and the correspondingl detent 190 will spring in tohold the stem upwardly-and the switch 195 will open so that `current does' not continue tol flow through the solenoid 42. The opening of switch 195 canA only take place after the armature core 187 of solenoid 42 'has risenl and been caught.,` Immediately upon the opening of this switch the arma-v ture 20G-'of solenoid 42 Aresumes its normal position and switches 201 and 202 'resume f their normal positions, the opening ofswitch 201 cutting off the current, from thetwoj solenoids 193 adjacent -'the ma'in"'solenb`ds 40 and 41.' Thus, at the'end of thiso era? tion, current is l flowing in ,nonewo ,jthe solenoids and the stem 45 is, heldin its up /permost position.' Subsequent operation of :the pedal 22 will throwthe' gears'i'nto inter- .through wires 220, switches 195, wires 211, and 210 to battery 175.

engage the high contact174 and to send current through the wire 181. Vire 181 is connected directly to winding 186 of the' solenoid 40. Solenoid 40 is thus energized in a manner similar to that just explained for the other solenoids; and atthe end of the operation caused by the energization ot' this solenoid the stem-43 is held in its uppermost position and the stem 45 is dropped, stem 44 having remained in its lower-most position after it was dropped by the operation of the intermediate solenoid 42. Subsequent operation of pedal 22 will throw the gears into high The normally open reverse button 183 may be mounted upon the steering post of lthe automobile, or may be mounted in any other convenient position.

lManual closure of this button switch will cause current to flow through wire 184 and through its branches 1841 and 184" to wind-V ings 185 of solenoids 41 and 42, thence Energization of these' two solenoids will cause the stems 44 and 45 to be pulled upwardly and to be subsequently held upwardly and will cause the stem 43 to be dropped to its normal position if it should happen to be held upwardly when the reverse button 183 is operated.. rThis is accomplished by the closure ot the two switches 201 (adjacent the solenoids 41 and 42) which connects wire 215 with wire 216. Current thenl-lows'from,battery 175 through wire 17 6, switch 177, wires 178, 216,

'217, switches 201, wires 218 and 215, right hand wire 214, right hand magnet 193 (adjacent the solenoid 40) wire 213, switch 202,

wires 212, 211, and 210 back to battery 175.

ergized .and stem 43 allowed to drop. Subsequent operation of foot pedal 22 will' throw the gears into reverse.

In order to obtain neutral I have eX- plained that it is only necessary to open the switch 177 and to leave all the stems 43, 44

and 45. in their normal positions and to operate the pedal 22. In order to drop any of the stems which may be in their upper positions (and it is seen that one or more of the rstems will continuouslyA 'be in their upper Right hand magnet (in Fig. 12) is thus enthe detents 190 are withdrawn by the.,ac

ltions-of solenoids 193. I supply current to the solenoids 193 by the provisiono'f' a.

battery wire 170 and commonwire 215 re-V spectively." Current will 4flow then frpm wire-215 through th' solenoids and the'wires .213, switche's 202"and.2wires 212thv the` dismediate. Increase of speediof-jthe autoi'nobile will causethe speedometer hand 1711.9

tributi'ng wire 211' andyi'ire 210 backfto the battery 17 5. Fach of the solenoids 193 will v'switch 23D connected by wires 231 and 232 to loe energized and all the detente Withdraivin.,

allowing' all the stems 43,44 and to drop.

lt' the parte ,of the Shifting device Dare insuch position as to prevent the 'stems dropping'to their louermostpositions, they" will at least drop far enough to' throw the shoulders 191 below thel detente 190 so that,.

the detents Will not spring under the shoulders 191. Thus, after "neutraF` has been once obtained, the stems L13, el and will all remain in ther loivermost positions until some further action is directed by the speedometer contact; that is, after neutral has once been obtained the parts of the gear selecting and shifting device will all remain in neutral7 position until the apparatus is again set in automatic action by the closure of switch 17T and the opening' of switch '230. During the maintenance of switch 17T open and switch 234') closed, the speed ot the car ma)Y he reduced to zero. Upon the subsequent closure of switch 17T and opening of switch 230, loir will immediatelj.'Y he selected by the automatic selective device, but the gear shifting mechanism and the gears ythemselves will remain in neutral7 until the suhseouenhoneration of the foot pedal vvhen lowv` will he selected.

'The switches 17T and 230 tuted as shown in Fig. .11. comprises a pair of contacts to he connected b v comn'iutator se nents 2343 and 23T mounted upon a sleeve d:3S Aon the huh Q39 o't`\a\iie 'lal 240 which shall term the neutral pedal. rl"he switch 1T? is normay he const-ivEach switch 2353 adapted mally closed. Whilethe switch 225() nor mallv open. Pressure of the neutral pedal will open the switch l'TT and will immediately `close the switch 230. :arisingthe selection of neutral as herei'ilieiore fh ril 'l`he neutral7 pedal 24() may he cor iecteil through the medium of clutch shoulders Q-.l and 212 with the clutch pedal 22. '.lhc aiu rangement is such that, aiter the Cneutrat7 pedal has moved sulliciently to open switch 1T? ainl to close switch 2in), it then picks up the clutch pedalii and' l'urther movement. ot the *nenti-al pedal `vill operate the pedal i Tins operation ot' the noutral pedal 2li) first selects neutrahy and then operates the pedal to throw the gears to their ncutrar posiuon. 'lhe lnalte pedal may ,he mounted alongside the other t pedals, making/ a convenient arrangcinein. llt it is ilesirczldlgo suddr-.nllj/ stop the car, it is onli' necessarjvito press 'noth the neutral`r and lirahe pedals. the engine and car thus living rutirelv disconnected l'roln the ti'zur in issiffugearinff and the brakes Het.. i. roliasijidthe neutral7 lil-dal, the mission gearing {vill remain in "neutraillanci-nient until the nella! is again oociv iwi. ln the meantime thc automatic sel .-tor may have selected any one of the forivard speeds of the car, but none of the-'selforward speeds will be put into operation until the pedalV zsagainoperated.v Thus7` when a' driver stops hiscar itis only necesand bring' the car to a stop with his brakes. ln starting the engine of a car and in order to make. sure that there. are no gears thrown sari; forium' vto piess`tlie neutrald[pedalv into mesh, it is only necessary that he press' the neutral pedal to throw out any gears which may happen to he in mesh.

It will be seen that the `fundan'iental of this invention involves the use o a selective mechanism automatic in its operation to select diierent gear arrangements or different speeds.y but that this automatic selector is incapable ot' actuallyv throwing the gears into the chosen arrangement. The driver maniY at any time operate the gear shifting' mechanism to use the selected speed; and he may at an)T time obtain reverse and neutral, is hereinhet'ore pointed out, the invention involves the use of some `egear shifting pedal or lever or the like; ind it is not necessary' to this invention that this member he the clutch pedal or be connected therewith. Ci'iiiperation of the clutch and gear shifting; mechanism is included in a specific aspect ot' my invention but not in its broadest aspect.

automobile. y'llhere are several conflit' in propulsion conditions; among; which are which the car travels' 'the speed ir, and the torque on i e transer nouer shaft. 'i i s* eed to etl'ett mi; l cause (l) he mecA such use is simple and eiiective and, {"2} the driver of his own volition uses the s spoed or not. lt is not supposed automatic selector will always speed wished hy the driver; hut forced to change speeds hy the automatic lector. (lonsequently, l prefer lo have my aiitoinalic selector controlled hy car sliced, do not limit myself lo thisl spef' o. l" this forni olf control irc the sclceior spec-doin inari.' manner through shaft .vhifel oi' the rar: which, in efdrivinf it from the driften oi' the transmissionincchi .UrT as shown in i), he speedometer shaft l'iff direI ly i'ron the' .halt GR in any caso the simidometei' 'is contri'ilied h jr' thi speed ot' the oar or l'r-ytlie speed ot' the linal halt olf the transmission, these tivo speeds mryine together.

llavingf discrilml my invention, l claim: l. ln an autonohilo;the roinl'iination of a driving gear coi-fnkii-ising :i'jxnotor and a ons which vary with variations l may drive trolled b v the speed of the driving gear for selectively setting said shifting mechanism for different subsequent speed'shifting operations. i

2. In an automobile, the combination of a driving lgear comprising a4 motor and a change speed mechanism driven by the motor capable of effecting different speed ratios between the motor aiid the driving wheels of the automobile, crable speed connecting media capable of being set into and out of operative relation between said member and said change speed mechanism and adapted to cause different speed changes in said mechanism by virtue of movement of said meiiiber, and automatic selective means connected to and controlled by the speed of the driving media into and out of operative relation.

Ei. 'In an automobile, the combination of a driving gear comprising a motor and a change speed mechanism driven by the motor capable of effecting different speed ratios between the motor and the driving wheels of the automobile, a speed shifting inember, a mechanism embodying a series of connecting media capable of being set into a'nd out of operative relation between said member and said change speed mechanism and adapted to cause different speed changes in said mechanism by virtue of nioveiiient. of said member, and automatic selective means connected to and controlled by the'A speed of the driving gear for setting said connecting media into and out of operative relation, said means and connective media. coperating so that one of said connective media is "always in operative relation to the change speed mechanism and the speed shifting member.

4. Iii'- an automobile, the combination of a driving gear embodying a motor, a clutch and a transmission mechanism adapted to be driven thereby and embodying shiftable change speed gears, a gear shifting mechanism capable of being set for different selectedV gear'ehanges, selective means connected to and controlledl by the speed of the driving gear for .selectively setting said shifting mechanism, and lmeans operative lto disengage said clutch and actuatesaid shifting mechanism to shift said vgears to produce the selected gear change when moved in one,

direction. y

5. In an automobile, the combination of a a manually opsluiting member, a series ot gear for set-tiiig said connecting driving gear embodying a motor and a transmission mechanism through Which the auton'iobile 1s driven from the motor embodying sliiftable change speed gears, a gear shifting mechanism capable of being set for different selected gear changesiwhile a pre-vv viously selected `:gear 1s in operation, selective rmeans connected to and automatically controlled by the speed of the driving gear for effect-ing the selective setting of said shifting mechanism, and means manually operable at will vto actiiate said shifting mechanism to shift said gears to produce vthe selected gear change. v

(ifIn an automobile, the combination'of,

a driving gear embodying a motor and ja transmission mechanism adapted to' be driven thereby -and embodying shiftable change speed gears, a gear shifting mechanisin, selective means connected to and au toinatically controlled by the'speed of the driving gear for setting said shifting mechanism .fordifl'erent selected gear changes, and ni xaiis to operate said shifting mechanisin to shift said gears to produce a selected gear change at one operation.

' 7. In an automobile, the combination'of a driving gear embodying a motor, `a'elutch and a transmission mechanism through which the automobile is driven from the motor embodying shiftable change speed gears, a gear shifting mechanism coperative therewith,'selective means connected to and automatically controlled by the speed of the driving gear for setting said shifting mechanism to select different gear changes, and Vmeans to disengage said clutch and operate' said shifting mechanism to produce the selected 'gear chan re when o erated in one direction and to engagev said clutch when operated in a reverse direction.

vS. 'lhe combination of a transmission mechanism embodying a driving .and a driven shaft, and shiftable. change speed gears between the'two shifts, a gear shifting mechanism, selective means automatically contifolledby the speed of rotation of said driven shaft for setting said shifting mechanism for different selected gear changes', ay clutch adapted to drive the 'transmission' mechanism, and means operaios ,means to iii Gngage tirs cinicii and aci'aate saiffi siiiiing inciianisni in produc@ die seierteii pgfar ci ai @ne operation.

"il, 'ifiie combinan( a transniissinn ineciianisn cnbodyiiciriving; and. a driien siiai gear siii'ftinff ine/snaai :,ciie mamas automatica Controiis eed roiaisn oi' said driven 0 said siii 'i' ig nnuaia nisin im' and mai siiiiiin 1f imitan@ gaar c :ainn

l2 ransnnssion mecha in 1( v -g :i driving ami a driven a gear' Changing means nea cinnii cepemiv ops-rairii io engage. ami n.

,infn niacanism for {maratsnechanisai i0 eiiect Selective means antoiie speed of ioiation with,

of s in sani transmission. one :ianisn or iiieren@ sninar-,a'i gea and ine-ansi Connsfting said tra giin; innciianisin "in sai@ i. i aie @mission npfmi- *ing me to @Tieni ina seieced chang, Said pnriai Qperated in dis engagi 13. iion Wiii drivingI and a driven an@ variabin spas@ ransnigsion inra ntf.' n mens in iwreinr, incinfiing a of porn transmission einnans for pian any of Said narnia in ani nn ai' driving i ier/iii@ niacin mission vinnie/nis :iniziai i imei-airain nation (if ,ing :int far ifiiii sii an speed lili,

taaie said gear changing nieciianisni to produce the selected gear change.

Tim combination of .a t'ansinision nnchanisni 'embodying' a driving, and a driven shaft and a chang@ gaar mechanism capaiiie of ei'i'ecting diii'arent rviative rates of rnta'iinn between the siia'its in one reiative iiireciinn and 0i' Qii'oiting rotation of tinsiiais in the inversa relative direction, a 'gvar ciianginv inciianisni capable 0f be 'ni seiwted gear changes Wiiiien previousiy Seine-imi fear is in (iperaiiimi. Sniiafii'n means annniatica'iiy cnnrniiied by 'iie spceii of 'rotation @if one 0i.

in@ :maiis to set Said gear rhanging ine/:lia-l nisin {f'nr 'iii'inien elected ,gvar changes, niuann inannaiiy npni'aiiin in siii said guar ciiangiiig' nnfiiianisni inr ravira@ sana-tion, and niaans inannaiiy nparabr ai nili to acnat@ said gvai changing niefiianisin in prn- (lniw iiil sviiaciai gear i'hangv.

U3. ri .1G nnibina'iinn (if 1.a transmission mechanism embodying a fiirii'ingg and a driven Shaft and a iiianggc naar mechanism :apabin "ii effecting iiii'nrmit riiatiw rates (if rniainn naiv-'een the shafts in un@ relative (iirerion and of iaiiiwting rnLation of the Siiai's in the itc-wiso roiaiirif iiirifriion, a

gaar irtiianging invriianisin napaiiic nii living Sa im' iiiiiirant sciii'iial `wir changes while a previnnsiy Seial-imi gian is in operaiinn, Seiwive means anninativaiiy ontruimd by die snaai nf mtainin nf (invI of the shafts to S'et sain gear changing nnaiianisni for iiiii'crent si! gear (-iiangiis, means niannaiiy operai Set said guar diangingf nie'cinn i "iuctian, nians inannaiijy.' operable in id guar changing inerti anisni 'im' nentrai seim'ion, anfi in lansl inannaiiy iipez'anin at wiii tu artnatn safiii guar Changing mechanism to midline tim soiiteii gaar viianife. v

1T. in an antninniiiiu, tinii'oniiiinatinn ni' a driving gear nniimciying a ii1 t6i1aini a change spesi/i naaiianisni driwn by iii@ motor rapaliic (if eii'uif'iing' (iiiiernnt spend i'aiins iintwniin the nioiin' anii iin' driving wiiaois fr? in@ autnnioiiiiv, a Sinaai' Shifting inniiianisin adapted for manna] npniatimi an` rapaiiin of iininii 'i'or difformi sniisiquent Sinaai shifting opvraiimn: whiii. tim (hangin Sinaai in-:whaniani is in npnrarimi ai a provimisiy i ,ated spraak, automatic anim'- ii'r insana cnnnactnii u) anii rontroiimi iiy Ehe wwf. of tim driving' iivar 5621.151 said spend Hiiii'zling inwhanisni 'im' iiiii'ironi Sinaai shifting oi'inaiinnst. and niannaiiy operable auimiziw moana i'm Soie?- tiveiy sitting Said Sinaai siii'finu nnwiianisni for imnra@ iaiaiun in im niitaiinii in" fini- Suqnnn inannai nplratinn (if Said ina/rhin tial wniiiinaiion of ij'ing a, iunior a ffii-ivan by Jahn tive means motor capable of effecting. different speed atios between the motor and the driving wheels of the automobile, a speed shifting mechanism ada ted for manual operation and capable of eing set for different subsequent speed shifting operations while the change speed mechanism is in operation at a previously selected speed, automatic selecconnected to and controlled by the speed of the driving gear for selectively setting said speed shifting mechanismfor different speed shifting operations, means f for manually setting said shifting mechamsm for reverse speed change, and means for manually discontinuing theaction of said automatic selective means and for set-v ing said shifting mechanism to neutral.

19.' In an automobile, the combination of a driving gear embodying a `motor and a change speed mechanism motor and capable of effecting different driven by the.

speed ratios between the motor and the' diiving wheels of, the automobile'in one relative direction of rotation and of effecting rotation in the reverse relative' direction, a speed shifting mechanism embodying a manually operable speed shifting member and a series' ot connective media between said member and the change speed mechanism adapted to cause different speed changes 1n said mechl anism by virtue of movement of said mem.-

b'er, automatic selective means connected to and controlled by the speed4 of the'driving gear for setting said connectivemedia into and out of action to cause different Speedchanges in the irst mentioned relative direction Aof rotation upon manual operation of the speed shifting member, manually operable means for setting said connective member, both of said means and said connective media being cooperated so that one of said'mnnecting media is always in operatii'e relation' to the change 'speed mechanism and the speed shifting member, and manually operable means for rendering said automatic selective means temporarily infineda into and out of action for causing" speed cliangeto the reverse'directlon upon vmanual' operation of the .speed shifting operative and for setting of said connective media for neutral.l

20; fn. an automobile., the combination of a driving gear embodying a inotoi andia change .speed mechanism driven by the motor and capable of 'effecting different speed ratios between the motor and driving wheels of thcI automobile in a relative for- ,ward direction of rotation and4 ofeflecting rotation in a relatively reversed direction,

aspeed shifting mechanism adapted for manual operation ca-pable of being set Ifor different speed shifting'operations while the changeA speed mechanism is in operatio'n` automatic selective means connected to and -controlled by tne speed of the driving gear selective gears, a gear shifting mechanism capable of being set for di erent selected gearv changes while a previously selected gear is in' operation, selective means automatically controlled'by the speed of rotation of said driven shaft to set said mechanism for different selected gear changes, and means manually operable at will to actiiate said Ashifting mechanism to produce a selected gear change.

22. The combination -of a driving and a driven shaft and a variable speed transmis- Sion mechanism therefor, including a plurality of sets' of power tra'smission elements, means for placing any set of said transmission elements in and out ofhdriving relation with the shaft, said means being manually operable at will and selective mechanism automatically controlled by the final speed of the transmission mechanism by which one set of said transmission elements is automatically selected for subsequent operation while another set of transmission eleinents isin operation.'

23. The combination of a. driving and a driven shaft and change speed mechanism` therefor, means for operating said mechanism tovc'aiise change in speed at will, and

Vmechanism automatically controlled' by the final speed of the change speed mechanism for continuously and automatically selecting a speed change to be obtained by subsequent operation of said .change speed operating means. *l

24. The combination of a transmission mechanism embodying a driving and a driven shaft and a change speed mechanism between the two shafts,`a sp'eed changing mechanism capableof being. selectively ser.A

`for subsequentv speed changing operations lianisni is 1n 120A a change speed mechanism through which the motoil drives the automobile, o a manu- 13C 25. i un nutnniwhle the mnzwimiuii with n 'hiviixg gmx' aliaimfiyiug nimm :mil i innige spwf niufrhzxiiism mimigii i the nmtm iii'iws H1@ azauoinmiiev f `\11;iiig mecha-. zii 011910.69, r" for dii'icii seieuferi speed Giur Y tions while rho chang spr-ml iiwffiizmisi in operation, L seieciv@ nieuw vmiimzwi tu and ziutmiiziticaiiy coiil'miivd wy iii@ spwi of the driving g'eii'z 'fm' mi@ i setting of Sad @pwd i ing/finir for suizsequent npfgi'ziiioi; und :i spe ing member mnnmaiiy .operable :xL wi! mopeiziting with iii@ spcfd swinging muslim.- nism fm cans@ speed changing :is dmwniinod by the speed contl'niie iiiwhmiisni,

27. 11 :m untonmbiis, fue cmribinntLu of a driving gmx vmimdyirj n maior, a Clutch and a spvmi imchmiisn'i change through which the mmm ii'ii'c ih :f xii-1 bile, L speed shifting meclimiism :wiupif'cl t@ be, wiectivuiy sut. im Subxcquciz fqwi'zitiun Combiiziifm o1 motor, n clutch and :i Change speed mechanism ti'iioug which che 11101301 diim die ziiitomoiilc3 sa iQ a dri :m11 mmm immimif Oper; bia nii wiii spve@ i ziilmxmhiie, 'ii@ Combination @if i; driving wir vu'ibmiymg a motor ami :i 

